Pin spotter carriage for pin setting apparatus



July 20, 1948. J. PARRA ET AL PIN SPOTTER CARRIAGE PoRPIN sETPING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 llll ll INV ENTORS I Fa//ZMM/L,

ATTORNEY.

Jaw@ @y July 20, 1948. J, PARRA Er Al.

PIN SPOTTER CARRIAGE FOR- PTN' SETTING APPARATUS 5 shets-sheet 2 Filed April l5, 1944 INVENToRs: agI/Zz'e,

|||| "M In lllahlllll l July 20, 1948- J. PARRA ET AL 2,445,688

PIN SPTTER CARRIAGE FOR PIN SETTING PPARIUS Filed April 15, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I .im

ATTORNEY.

. c/Zse July 20, 1948. J. PARRA ET AL 2,445,688

Pm SPOTTER CARRIAGETOR PIN SETTING APPARATUS l I l assunsnsnassgsmm July 20, 1948. J. PARRA ET Ax. 2,445,688

APIN SPOTTER CARRIAGE FOR PIN SETTING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1944 l 5 sheets-'sheet 5 y l /2 /2 A I lf f| 2f l L? l MT1 i Z0 .H d, /7

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AToRNEY.

Patented July 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIN SPOTTER CARRIAGE FOR PIN SETTING APPARATUS Joseph Parra and william White, Newark, N. J. Application April 15, 1944, serial No. 531,164

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in pin setting apparatus for bowling alleys; and the invention has reference,`more particularly, to improvements in the pin spotter carriage of pin setting apparatus.

This invention has for an object to provide an improvedconstructionof pin spotter carriage adapted to receive and assemble a complement of pins ready for setting, and thereupon lower the assembled pins and then release the same for deposit upon the alley in upstanding positions thereon and accurately spotted in properly grouped and mutually spaced relation ready for play, and to this end said spotter carriage is provided with means to receive the pins delivered thereto, together with cooperative normally closed movable means to support the received pins until a full complement thereof has been assembled in properly grouped relation, means being provided to open and close said movable supporting means relative to` said receiving means, whereby, when the spotter carriage is lowered to pin spotting position and said supporting means is moved to opened position, the accumulated pins are released for deposit upon the alley; said supporting means and the pins being further provided with novel cooperative means for picking up standing pins remaining on the alley after a. first ball has been bowled, whereby such pins may be lifted by the carriage and suspended above the alley while dead wood is being swept from the alley, and thereupon being operativeV to release such lifted pins when the carriage isagain lowered to reset the same upon the alley ready for the bowling of a second ball in an attempt to knock them down and thus obtain a spare score.

In bowling a first ball against a full complement of standing pins, if the player fails to knock down all the pins to obtain a strikej thus leaving one or more thereof standing so as to require a second ball to be bowled in an attempt to score a sparef the pins left standing are sometimes shifted out "of their initially spotted positions, in which shifted positions they should remain, rather than Vto be accurately respotted, thereby adding to the hazards of the game and requiring greater exercise of skill by the bowler for covering and knocking down the same by the second ball bowled, whereby to obtain the spare score. Having this in view, it is a further object of this invention to provide the top en-ds of the pinswith vacuum or suction cups and to provide the movable pin supporting means of the carriage with novel means to engage said cups with suction eiect whereby to temporarily lift and suspend standing pins, said latter means including normally sealed or closed vacuum breaker means and means operable to open said vacuum breaker means to release the suction attached pins upon return of the same to upstanding position upon the alley; said vacuum or suotion cup engaging portions of the pin supporting means and the cooperating vacuum breaker means being of such form and construction as to operatively engage the vacuum or suction cups of standing pins whatever may be the positions of said pins, that is regardless of whether the latter remain spotted or have shifted out of normal spotted position, and thereupon lift and thereafter return and `release the same to stand inthe identical positions in which they stood after the first ball was bowled.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a pin spotter carriage according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View thereof, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing the same by full line representation in raised pin receiving position and by dotted line representation in lowered pin depositing and spotting position; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View, similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing the carriage by full line representation in lowered position for engaging standing pins remaining after a rst bowled ball and by dotted line representation in raised position for lifting and suspending said standing pins to permit removal of dead wood from the alley.

Fig. 5 is a rear end elevational view of the carriage, in part section, showing the same lowered to return temporarily removed standing pins to the alley, and showing the vacuum breaker means as operated to release said returned pins.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the pin suction cup engaging portions of the movable pin supporting means of the carriage.

Fig. 'I is an elevational view in part section of a pin equipped at its top end with a vacuum or suction cup according to this invention.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

leading upwardly therefrom to pin delivery and' distributing means (not shown), are tubular pin4 guide members I2.

Connected with the oppositesides of the 11F-lainY platform I I of the carriage, to extend along the underside thereof, and so as to extend longitudi nally beyond an end, preferably the forward,

end, of said platform, are trackway members I3. Movably mounted in and between said trackway membersv i3, so as to normally lie in a spaced plane parallel to and 4beneath the underside of saidmain platform II, is a traveling 'pin supportingmeans comprising a traveling platform I .1.

The-main platform H is provided-with means for producing suitablytimed operative traveling movements of the traveling platform I4, said means comprising-a pull cable system and actuating means therefor. Asuitably attache-d to the respective marginal side portions ofthe traveling platform` I4, at points adjacent tothe rear end of the lat-ter, are propulsive cables I5. These cablesy I5 extend forwardly beneath the main platform II and-pass over guide pulleys i6 which are mountedon the forward end of said main platform II, passing thence rearwardly above saidvmain platform I I to winding drum members I 'I to which they are operatively attached. Suitably attached to therespective marginal side portions of the travelingv platform I ll, at points adjacent to the forward end of the same, are retractive cables i8. Said cables I8 extend rearwardly beneath the main platform II and pass over guide pulleys i9'which are mounted on the rearward end of'saidmainplatform II, passing thenceforwardly-.above the latter to winding drum'members 20 to which they are operatively attached; Said winding drum members` I'l and areaiiixedupon a suitably located transverse drum shaftZI by which said drinn members are rotated; said shaft being journaled in andbetween bearing standards 22 carried by the main platform II, so as to extend above and-across the latter. The relation of the propulsive cables I5 and'retractive cables I8 to their respective windu ing drumlmembers issuch that,V when said drum members are rotatedin onel direction, e. g., in clockwise direction as. shown, the propulsive cables I5 will be reeled-up on their dr,um mem bers. I?, While the retractive cables i8 will bei proportionately paid olf from their members. 20, and, conversely, when the winding drum members are rotated in the opposite direction, e.. g'.. inanticlockwise direction asV shown, the

propulsive` cables I5 will be paid off from theirY drum members I 1, while the retractive cables will'be reeled upon their druml members 2B.

Suitable means is-provided for reversibly driving the drum shaft 2| and thev winding drums rotated' thereby. An illustrative means for this purpose, asshown, comprises a reversible electric motor 23= which is mounted inra suitable location upon the main platform I I of the spotter carriage. Suitable transmission means 24 of belt and pulley or equivalent type orof any other` a.v second bowled ball. To

is; removed i from the presented: vacuum or-suctioncup 25,

suitable type, and preferably designed to effect a desired speed reduction, transmits the power of said motor 23 to the drum shaft 2|.

The pin spotter carriage is supported and actuated in any convenient manner for vertical up and down movements from and toward the alley pin stand section Iii. Initially the spotter carriage is disposed in uplifted position to receive pinsP (see fullline representations in Figs. 2 and 3), in which position the traveling platform i4 underlies the main platform II so as to close its pin drop openings and thus support the pins Elasgdeliveredyto the spotter carriage from suitable-moans such, e. g., as that disclosed in our togand accumulated in the spotter carriage, the

latter, by suitably timed controlling and actuatingme'ans, is caused to descend toward the alley pin stand section I0 so las to be disposed over the latte-r inf, position; to depositthe pins; P" thereupon; The; spotter carriage; having: arrived in suohapindenositins position, themeans forcontrolling.; and: operating f the traveling platform I is timed to move the latter forwardly-along the tramway/members I3;K andr thusoutwa-rdly and aWay-from-.its-initia1 pinsupporting position as alignedgbeneaththe mamplatform lil. 'Ifo this endn electric current is;A delveredftothe motor 23 tooperatei the same4 in, direction tov transmit clookwisefrotation to the; drumhaft 2l and its cabley drums I f1; and 2D, whereby the traveling plat-form is` slid;v forwardly and outwardly from beneathgt-hamaiinplatform I I thus removing the same from; supporting relationto; thev pins` P,

an-dthereby'allowing, the latterv to drop through the pin drop-:openings of themain platforrrr II so as to bel deposited uponA and standonv the alley pinstand section; Ill` (see dotted line representations in Figs, 2 ,and 3,).I

Thepinshavinggbeengthus deposited and spotted onlthealley-pinstand section I0, the spotter carriageocontrolling and operating means functions to return the carriage to initial uplifted position,- and, when `the standingpins are cleared, the m0tor.23 is reversedv totransmitanticlockwise rotation to the'drumshaft 2I and its cable drums l1' and 20, whereby; to,` retract l, the i traveling platform I4to nor-malinitial `pin supporting position beneath the main-platform I I. l

If` after the firstballfis bowled,` someY pins are knocked over and other pins. left standing, the alley must be; cleared of: fallen pins or dead wood,'leaving thestanding; pins for attack by permit clearing away oflthe-deadwoodf the standing. pins must be lifted out of the way, and aftenthe `alley is cleared, returned to standing position so as-to occupy the samepositions, either-spotted or shifted,- in which theyl'were left.` wheirmissed by the rst ball bowled. The vnovel meansaccording to this inventionfor so temporarily;liftingY and removing the standing pins; fromthe;4 alley while dead wood latter,V and then returning said'pins-tofstanding position on the alley, comprises the Vfollowingfcooperating agencies:

Eaollipin` I*V isV provided. at its top` end, and in axial alignment therewith; Wthan upwardly which may be securelyfa-ixed tothe,- pin end in any suitable manner. The suction cups 25 of.- standing pins to be temporarily removed from the alley pin stand' section I llare7 adapted to be adherently engaged by' the=und`er= or exterior face of the traveling-platforml I4,When1the latter is.brought into pressure contact therewith'. Means is provided in vassociation withthe traveling platform I4 for breaking, at proper times, the vacuum or suction adherence of the pin suction cups 25 to the traveling platform I4, whereby to release-the engaged pins. To this end, that portion of the area of the traveling platform I4 which, when said traveling platform occupies its normal retracted position beneath the main platform II of the spotter carriage, overlies the area of alley' pin stand section I occupied by a full complement of standing pins P, is provided with a multiplicity of closely spaced air admission passages 26 extending therethrough from the upper to the under face of said traveling platform. Mounted on the upper face of said traveling platform I4, to overlie the entire perforate section or area thereof formed by the multiplicity of air admission passages 26, is a sealing blanket 21. This sealing blanket 21 comprises a sheet of resilient air impervious material, such, e. g., as a gelatiniferous material, soft rubber or compound thereof, or rubbery material. Said sealing blanket 21 is adhesively axed to4 the underside of a rigid carrier plate 28, such, e. g., as a plate or sheet of metallic or other rigid material. e Said carrier plate 28 is of a width exceeding the width of said sealing blanket 21, so as to provide along opposite side margins of the latter, freely projecting marginal portions of said carrier plate which constitute lift portions 29 which overhang areas of the traveling platform I4 outwardly of the perforate section of the latter. This carrier plate 28 also provides a smooth upper surface for opposition to the pins disposed in the drop out openings of the main platform II whereby to support said pins, and yet so as to be withdrawable therefrom by forward movement of the traveling platform I4, whereby to release said pins for initial deposit upon the alley pin stand section I0.

Gravitation of said sealing blanket 21 and its carrier plate 28 toward the traveling platform I4 normally holds said sealing blanket in sealing relation to the air admission passages 2B whereby to close the latter against the passage of air therethrough.

After a first ball has been bowled against a full Icomplement of pins P and has left standing pins, the spotter carriage is again'lowered, while the traveling platform I4 is retained in normal retracted position. As the spotter carriage thus descends, said traveling platform I4 is brought into engagement with the vacuum or suction cups 25 of the standing pins, and by pressure upon the same drives Yout the air trapped therein, so as to create a vacuum therein andthereby cause external atmospheric pressure to effect adherence of the cups to the underface of said traveling platform I4 (see full line representation in- Fig. 4) The standing pins P being thus engagedgthe spotter carriage is again caused to return to normal uplifted position, carrying said adhering standing'pins therewith, so as to suspend the same above the alley pin section ID and bordering alley gutters I0', while suitable dead wood sweep means (not shown) is actuated lto remove therefrom any fallen pins remaining thereon (see dotted line representation in Fig. 4).

After the dead wood has been removed, the spotter carriage is again caused to descend, whereby to return the temporarily removed standing pins for redeposit upon the alley 'pin stand'y section IB, in exactly the same positions from which they were temporarily removed. Upon such redeposit of said standing pins P,`

means is provided to break the vacuum within their vacuum or suction cups 25, so as to release thesame from adhered relation to the traveling platforml I4, and thus to leave them standing on the alley pin section when, thereafter, the spotter carria-ge is again returned to normal uplifted position. Such breaking of the vacuum within the suction cups is effected by lifting the sealing blanket 21 away from the perforate section of the traveling platform so that air'may pass through air admission passages 26 which communicate with said suction cup interiors. Suitable means is provided for lifting the sealing blanket at the proper time. One illustrative form thereof as shown comprises rock bars 30 bordering opposite sides of the sealing blanket 21 and its carrier plate 28, the same being journaled in bearings 3l affixed to the upper side-of the traveling platform I4. Said rock bars 33 are provided with lifting lever portions 32 which extend beneath and so as to normally flatly underlie the lift portions 29 of the sealing blanket carrier plate 2S. Said rock bars 3l] extend rearwardly beyond the rear ends of the traveling platform I4 and main platform I I', and terminate in angular actuatlnglever members 33, which extend inwardly one toward the other. Mounted on the rear end portion of the main platform I I is means lfor effecting suitably timed upswinging move- 30.-

ments ofsaid rock bar actuating lever members 33. An illustrative form of suchv means'includes a vertically reciprocable frame 34 slidable in a guide means 35 provided inconnection with a bracket or standard 35 affixed to the rear end portion of the main platform II of the spotter carriage. Said frame 34 is, provided at its' lower end with. a bottom cross-head 31, the respective opposite free end portions of which underlie the respective free end portions of the. actuating lever members 33. Said frame 34 is provided at its upper end with a topcross-head 38. Located above said frame 34 is a rotatable crankmember or-wheel 33, the arm of which is connected with saidtop cross-head 38 of the frame`34 by a link 4E. Suitable means is provided for effecting rotation of the crank member orwheel, under properly timed control. As shown, this means comprises an electric motor 4I as a power source;

said motor being supported by' the aforesaid 'bracket orstandard 35. The shaft 42 which carries thercrank member or whee1m39 is journaled in suitably supported bearing means 43, and affixed on said shaft 42 is awormlwheel 44 with which meshes a driving worm 45 carried by the motor ,armatureV shaft, thus providing transmission means of speed reduction type fortransmitting the power of the motor to said crank member or wheel 33. Under suitably arranged motor circuit `control and timing means, the motor is energized and operatedvto produce one complete revolution of VtheV crank member or wheel 39 after the spotter carriage is lowered `to redeposit the temporarily removed standing pins upon the alley pin stand section Iii. Said rotation of the crank member or wheel 35 first operates to draw upward the frame 34 whereby to upwardly move its bottom cross-head 31 and thereby cause upswinging movement of the lever members 33 which Vloperate to simultaneously rotate the respective rock barsv 3i] and thus upswing the lifting lever portions 32. The upswinging movement of 'said 'lifting lever portions 32 engages the same with the lift portions 29 of the sealing `blanket carrier Aplate 28, thus raising the sealing blanket 21 away from thel air admission passages 26,1a`nd allowing atrto gain access to the interior v'of said standing pin yacuum 4or suction loups I25 whereby the vacuum thereof is #broken and :the --suctional afdiheren'ce y'thereof to the underside -of the traveling platform 44 released (seefFfig. 5)-, this-'occura i and `before the crank ymember for wheel -39 comlpletes its revolution, the spotter carriage is -startedback lfor return "to normal initial iupli'fted position, whereafter uponcompletion o-f th'erevoflution 'of the crank member or wheel 39, the -frame 34 an'd its 'bottom cross-'head il are lowered to normal initial position, to fdisengage the levermenibers-Si, and thereby to permit the rockbars 3@ and theirlitting -levergportions :3-2 Vto `fsw-ing down to Ynormal position, thus returning the sealing blanket 21 "to its 'closed relation to the #air yadmission openings 26. Thereafter, 'when the spotter'carriage -regains xits -uplifted position, the :apparatus Ais again ready for repetition vof the cycle of operations whereby a -fnll complement of :pins collected in the :spotter carriage may be again deposited on the falley pin :section im, then bowled-against by afi-rst bai-l, any sta-nd- -ing `pins :remain-ing thereafter being temporarily :removed while 'idea-d wood ris swept Eaway, and then redeposited ready `for :bowling -fo-f a 1second ball.

It Awill 1be obvious that yshould pins lleft standing -on the -a'lley fpin stand section I- after a -first `bafll has :been bowled be shifted out of 'in-itial spot-ted positions, the traveling platform YM, when lowered to :engage their suction cups 25, will do so whatever `their shifted position may be, and the thus Lengaged `pins "will be slifted vfrom and returned exactly to such shifted positions. Since the area of closely spaced air admission -openings 26 is coext'ens'ive with Vthe alley l:pin stand seo- `tion 10, when such "shifted e.pins are engaged there will always be some said air admission openings 25 Vin communication with their suction `cup `interiors, so that, vwhen `thepins'are returned-to the shifted positions from which they were lifted, and the sealing -blanket 21 lremoved to'open -`said `.cornmunicating airpassagesair mayilow into `the suction ycup interiors Lto vreleasingly breakthe Va'cl num 4under which they are adhered to kthe travel- -ing platform -|'4.

:Having now described sour-invention, we claim: v1. In pin settingapparatus, 'a vertically recip- -rocable .pin lspotter vcarriage -having pin receiving meansandmeans-to lrelease said pins for deposit instanding position upon an galley pins-tand :section when 'said carriage 'is lowered -to pin -spotting position-neet of pins, each pin having an upwardly presented suction cup at its top end, sai-d carriage Vhaving means toadherently engage r`the 'suction -cups `of standing fpin's when :the carriage :is lowered toward said pins iwhereby, :upon -a succeeding yupward movement yof said carriage, to Asuspend said standing pins above the alley pin stand section while dead woodissweptfrom the alley, suction -oup vacuum breaker means -operati-ve Ito -release saidengaged suction cups, and lmeans to voperate said vacuum 'breaker means when a succeeding vdownward `movement of ysaid carriage redeposits saidstanding pins upon the alley pin stand sec-tion.

2. In a pin setting-apparatus,1-a vertically -revcipreoable 'pin spotter carriage -having ipin receiving @means provided with pin dropopenings, Itrackwayfmeans along the rsides :of said carriage,

- na'traveling platformsupportedby said z-trackw'ay means to normally underlie fand close lsaid pin :drop -fopenings against 'passage of pins :therethrough-but movableftoopensaidopenings tope'r- Amit .passage 'of pins therethrough for deposit in stand-ingposition upon an alley-pin stand section whenthe'carriageisilowered to pin spotting position, means to operate .said .traveling platform, ya set -of pins, each pin having an upwardly presentedsuotion cupatits topend, the suction cups of standing pins being adapted to `be adherently engaged Aby :said traveling platform when said spotter carriage is lowered toward said standing pins whereby, :upon .a succeeding upward movement 'ofsaid carriage, to suspend said standing pins "above the alley pin stand section while dead wood .is `swept from .the alley, .suction cup 'Vacuum breaker means operative to release said cups :from adherent attachment to said traveling platform, and means to operate -said vacuum breaker -means when -a succeeding `downward movement `of :said carriage redeposits said standing pins upon the alley ypin stand section.

3. vIn a pin setting apparatus, a vertical-1y Areciprocable pinspotter carriage `having pin receiv- :ingmeans provided with pin drop-openings, trackway 'means lalong the sides of .said carriage, a traveling platform supported by said trackway `means to normally yunderlie and close said pin drop openings lagainst `passage of ,pins .therethrough `but movable to open said openings rto :permit passage A'of vpins therethroug'hfor depositin standing posi-tion upon an alley `pin stand section when the carriage is 'low-ered `Ito pin lspotting position, l.means to opera-tesaid traveling platform, a set'of pins, each pin vhaving Ian upwardly ,presented suct-ion'cup at `its top end, thesuction cups of standing pins Ybeing adapted to Abe `.adherently ,engaged by "said traveling platform when said spotter-carriage Tis flowered .toward nsaid standing `pins whereby, upon a succeeding upward -move- 'ment-of said carriage, to Asuspend said standing :pins above the alley pin `stand `section while dead wood:is swept fromthe alley, `suction-cup yatuum 'breaker cneans operative -torelease said cups trom adherent attachment yto said traveling platform, fand means -to operate said vacuum :breaker :means 4when -a succeeding downward movement of said-carriage redepositssaid standing pins upon the alley pin stand section, said vacuum breaker means and operating 4means ltherefor comprising the :provision of `a ,multiplicity-of closely spaced air passages throughsaid traveling platform in .an area thereof vopposed tofand substantially Acoextensive with the alleypin stand section, a seal-ing `blanket of resilient vair impervious material superposed on said ytraveling Iplatform vto normally close saidfair passages, and `means-to lift said-sealingblanket whereby to open said air passages.

4. In a pin setting apparatus, `a vertically Are- -ciprocable pin `spotter `carriage `having pin 1e- !oeiving imeans y.provided with .pin drop openings, -trackway means along the sides of `said carriage, -a traveling `platform supported vby-said trackway Ymeans to ynormally underlie 4and close said ,pin drop openings l`again-st passage Vof pins therethrough Zbut Imovable to open said openings .to

:permit passage vof-pins Itherethrough for deposit irl-standing position uponan alley pinstand section when the 'carriage is lowered to (pin spotting position, means to operate said traveling platform, a set of pins, each .pin :having an upwardly presented-suction cup at its top end, .the ysuction cups `of standing pins being adapted .to fbe vadl'ierently engaged y.bysaid traveling ,platform when-said spotter carriage is lowered :towardsaid standing :pins whereby, upon a succeeding up- `ward movement of saidcarriage, to suspend .said

standing pins above the alley pin stand section while dead wood is swept from the alley, suction cup vacuum breaker means koperative to release said cups from adherent attachment to said traveling platform, and means to operate -said vacuum breaker means when a succeeding downward movement of said carriage redeposits said standing pins upon the alley pin stand section, said vacuum breaker means and operating means therefor comprising the provision of a multiplicity of closely spaced air passages through said traveling platform in an area thereof opposed to and substantially co-extensive with the alley pin stand section, a sealing blanket of resilient air impervious material superposed on said traveling platform to normally close said air passages, a carrier plate superposed on and affixed to said sealing blanket, said carrier plate having free marginal lifting portions, oscillatable levermeans to engage said lifting portions, and means supported on said spotter carriage for actuating said lever means.

5. In a pin setting apparatus, a vertically reciprocable pin spotter carriage comprising a main platform having pin receiving means provided with pin drop openings, trackway members affixed to opposite sides of said main platform to extend therealong and to project beyond an end thereof, a traveling platform slidably supported by and between said trackway members to normally underlie saidrmain platform whereby to close the pin drop openings thereof, means to move said traveling platform back and forth along the trackway members, a set of pins, each pin having an upwardly presented suction cup at its top end, the suction cups of standing pins being adapted to be adherently engaged by the underside of said traveling platform when the latter occupies an interposed position between said pins and said main platform and said carriage is lowered toward said pins whereby, upon succeeding upward movement of said carriage, to suspend said standing pins above the alley pin stand section while dead wood is swept from the alley, and means to release said suction cups from adherent engagement with said traveling platform when a succeeding downward movement of said carriage redeposits said standing pins upon the alley pin stand section.

6. In a pin setting apparatus, a vertically reciprocable pin spotter carriage comprising a main platform having pin receiving means provided with pin drop openings, trackway members aixed to opposite sides of said main platform to extend therealong and to project beyond an end thereof, a traveling platform slidably supported by and between said trackway members to normally underlie said main platform whereby to close the pin drop openings thereof, means to move said traveling platform back and forth along the trackway members, a set of pins, each pin having an upwardly presented suction cup at its top end, the suction cups of standing pins being adapted to be adherently engaged by the underside of said traveling platform when the latter occupies an interposed position between said pins and said main platform and said carriage is lowered toward said pins whereby, upon succeeding upward movement of said carriage, to suspend said standing pins above the alley pin stand section while dead wood is swept from the alley, and means to release said suction cups from adherent engagement with said traveling platform when a succeeding downward movement of said carriage redeposits said standing pins upon the alley pin stand section, said latter means comprising the provision of a multiplicity 0f closely spaced air passages through said traveling platform in an area thereof opposed to and substantially coexensive with the alley pin stand section, a sealing blanket of resilient air impervious material superposed on said traveling platform to normally close said air passages, and means to -lift said sealing blanket whereby to open said air passages.

'7. In a pin setting apparatus, a vertically reciprocable pin spotter carriage comprising a main platform having pin receiving means provided with pin drop openings, trackway members aiixed to opposite sides of said main platform to extend therealong and to project beyond an end thereof, a traveling platform slidably supported by and between said trackway members to normally underlie said main platform whereby torclose the pin drop openings thereof, means to `move said traveling platform back and forth along the trackway members, a'set of pins, each pin having an upwardly presented suction cup at its top end, the suction cups of standing pins being adapted to be adherently engagedbythe (underside of said traveling platform when the latter occupies an interposed position between saidv pins and said main platform and said carriage is lowered toward said pins whereby, upon f succeeding upward movement of said carriage, to

suspend said standing pins above the alley pin stand section while #dead wood is swept from the alley, and means to release said suction cups from adherent engagement with said traveling platform when a succeeding downward movement of said carriage redeposits said standing pins upon the alley pin stand section, said latter means comprising the provision of a multiplicity of closely spaced air passages through said traveling platform in an area thereof opposed to and substantially coeXtensive with the alley pin stand section, a sealing blanket of resilient air impervious material superposed on said traveling platform to normally close said air passages, a carrier plate superposed on and affixed to said sealing blanket, said carrier plate having free marginal lifting portions, oscillatable lever means to engage said lifting portions, means to pivotally support said lever means on said traveling platform, and means supported on said main platform for actuating said lever means.

8. In a pin setting apparatus having pin spotter carriage means as dened in claim 5 wherein the means for moving the traveling platform thereof comprises propulsive cable means attached to said traveling platform to extend in one direction therefrom, retractive cable means att-ached to said traveling platform to extend in the opposite direction therefrom, and winding drum means for said cable means mounted on the main platform of the spotter carriage, the relation of said cable means to said winding drum means being such that when said propulsive cable means is taken up b y said drum means the retractive cable means will be simultaneously paid off therefrom and vice versa.

9. In a pin setting apparatus having pin spotter carriage means as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for moving the traveling platform thereof comprises propulsive cable means attached to said traveling platform to extend in one direction therefrom, retractive cable means attached to said traveling platform to extend in the opposite direction therefrom, winding drum means for said cable means mounted on the main platform of the spotter carriage, the relation of said cable means At'o said ywinding drum means being such that when said propulsive cable means is taken up by said drum means the retractive cable means will be simultaneously paid off therefrom and vice versa, and means for rotating said drum means including a reversible power drive therefor.

10. In a pin setting apparatus h-aving a pin spotter carriage means as defined in claim '7 wherein the means for moving the traveling platform thereof comprises propulsive cable `means attached to said traveling platform to extend in one direction therefrom, retractive cable means attached to said traveling platform to extend in the opposite direction therefrom, Winding drum means for said cable means mounted on the main platform of the spotter carriage, the relation of said cable means to said winding drum means being such that when said propulsive cable means isA taken up by said drum means the retractiveV cable means will be simultaneously paid off therefrom and vice versa, and means for ro tating said drum means including a reversible power drive, therefor.

11. In a pin setting apparatus, a vertically reciprocable pin spotter carriage and a set of pins to be handled thereby, each pin of said set having a suction cup aixed to its top end, said car-- riage having means to adherently engage suction cups of standing pins soA that the latter may be lifted and suspended above the alley pin stand section while dead Wood is swept from the alley and thereafter returned by said carriage to the standing positions upon the alley from which they were thus temporarily` removed.

12. In a pin setting apparatus, a vertically ree ciprocable pin spotter carriage and a set of pins to be handled thereby, each pin of said set having a suction cup ax-ed to its top end, said car riage having means to adherently engage sue tion cups of standing pins so that the latter may be lifted and suspended above the alley pin stand section while dead wood is swept from the alley and thereafter returned by said carriage to the standing positions upon the alley from which they were thus temporarily removed, and means operative to release the. suction icups of the thus returned standing pins from adhered relation to4 said lattermeans whereby the carriage free of such pins may be returned to nor-mal upl-iftedA position.

JOSEPH PARRA. WILLIAM REEERENCES CITED The following references arey Qf record. the 

